smart meter, not

Has any one else had this experience? We had a smart meter installed and then immediately removed as "the signal" locally was not good enough, the previous meter was put back in. Since then the electricity has been read for billing purposes from the smart meter which had started at 0 - goodness knows where that is, it's not in our house, I have been sending readings from the original one. We have only just realised from the itemised bill that the meter serial number SP is billing from is different to the one in our cupboard. I told SP in November that the smart meter had not been installed/activated and received a reply from Customer Services so they cannot say they did not know. Every time I phone they tell me I have a smart meter. Any one have any luck convincing them? And getting a correct bill, based on actual usage?

Top answer

How can i give a reading with not METRE Have been promised one since going to scottish power BUT have never received one AND HAVE ASKED MANY TIMES both by phone direct ALSO by mail.

I f it means completely ignoring scottish power UNTIL SOME decides to do some thing about it (that is how it is working out at present. lost count of the times of asking. and really sorry I changed to Scottish POWER .BAD MISTAKE SOMEBODY PLEASE WAKE UP AND DO THE JOB. (acc No 16052436922

Top answer

Never install a smart meter they wont save you money, are a fire hazard , can be hacked and you are giving away information and many installers are not installing them properly - apart from the fact anything that is new and is rolled out is always prone to errors - Just like Microsoft updates - trust them not - always wait until they have been proven if you are desperate for one otherwise you are just a guinea pig for the companies that are pushing this nonsense about it saving yoi money and being easier for you - nope its easier for them - think about it - no need to pay someone to read your meter its all about saving them money - NOT YOU - Use yer noodle and follow the X-Files advice TRUST NO-1.

I work in IT securIty - believe me or just google it and check Martin on the moneysaving website!

Top answer

You're absolutely right, the SMETs 1 meters are unreliable and not future-proof. The SMETs 2's are a little better, but by no means perfect. This is because when they're installed they're set up to communicate with the current supplier and when customers change supplier (as we're all advised it makes economic sense to every now and then) the new supplier can't always read the data transmission. Also, home wifi coverage is often inadequate for the SMETs 1 or 2 to work efficiently and continuousy, hence they give incontinuous/misleading/inacurrate readings.

When you consider they don't actually save you any money anyway (you have to DECIDE to switch stuff off yourself, and actually DO IT) I don't believe they're worth the hassle at all. Well, that's wrong actually, they DO save the fuel companies money... They may be fitted free but the cost of them is built in to EVERYONE'S fuel charges, so whether you have one or not, you still pay for them.

Top answer

Why do we NEED smart meters? I am 55 - when I went to school energy bills were basic maths questions! The gas equation is more complex than electricity because some units of gas give more energy than others! The equation to work out reading to usage and the actual cost is on the back of every bill and very simple to check/predict with a calculator. Electric is v easy = unit price times units used+ vat. I am very aware of my energy usage because I only have small income -so I am a low user anyway!

What I find frustrating is the differing levels of standing charges between companies - Scottish Power has one of the lowest for Gas but the Electricity standing charge is about the same as all the rest - which does not help low users!

As I said before - WHY do I need a new 'smarter than me' meter? Having one will NOT reduce my usage and I am more than capable of giving monthly readings - if thats what 'they' want!

Top answer

Its you that has to be "smart" to enable them to work and make savings; nothing smart about the meters,

Even the old Horstmann k series have problems with radio frequency if you live in a valley or area with bad reception so it cant set the time properly and you end up with massive bills when you thought you were getting your storage heaters and leccie cheap on White meter between 11pm and 7am when its actually on in the afternoon as people in a certain Welsh village in the mountains recently found out to their horror when they got their £500 monthly bills lol